H3N2 Flu may be Spread Just Through Breathing

The H3N2 Flu may be spread just through breathing, according to a new study. The H3N2 flu virus is already widespread in all U.S. states except for Hawaii and there is global concern over the influenza epidemic.

A $10 million study’s findings of how flu spreads show that the virus spreads not only through sneezing and coughing but also simply through breathing. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Dr. Milton, M.D., MPH, professor of environmental health in the University of Maryland School of Public Health and lead researcher of this study said that people with flu exhale infectious aerosols so they should go home and not remain in the crowd and infect others.

The researchers’ team conducted a research in which they studied 142 confirmed cases of people with influenza during natural breathing, spontaneous coughing, sneezing, and prompted speech and analyzed the effects of naturally generating influenza aerosols.

The results unveiled that several flu patients routinely shed infectious virus into aerosol particles create a risk for airborne transmission.

Sheryl Ehrman, Don Beall Dean of the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering at San José State University said, “The study findings suggest that keeping surfaces clean, washing our hands all the time, and avoiding people who are coughing does not provide complete protection from getting the flu.” “Staying home and out of public spaces could make a difference in the spread of the influenza virus,” she added.